Guide on adding a new model, animation, and creature to HoMMV

I have a set of textures, an FBX model, and an SMD file for it. It seems like the texture mapping is done through the SMD file because the exported FBX doesn't have any materials. But that's just the first issue. The main question is: is there a way to remove the skeleton from the model in Maya 2009?

I don't know about Maya, but you can convert Heroes models or SMDs to the .obj format using Archangel, which doesn't have a skeleton. However, the program is buggy in many ways; sometimes polygons detach from the model, or the vertex binding to the skeleton is lost. There will also be some minor problems with lighting on the final model in the game.

I don't have 3ds Max, unfortunately, and I don't want to buy it either.

I don't think anyone buys it just to make free mods out of pure enthusiasm ;ъ
I didn't bother and just downloaded a keygen; someone uses the student version, which, as far as I know, is also quite easy to get.

I have a set of textures, an FBX model, and an SMD file for it. It seems like the texture mapping is done through the SMD file because the exported FBX doesn't have any materials.

I don't have any experience with Maya, and I'm basically a beginner, but I can assume that the problem is with the incorrect conversion from SMD to FBX because I don't believe there is a 3D model format that doesn't support UV mapping. You need to check all export parameters, make sure the model has the correct textures before the conversion, and generally eliminate possible errors at all stages. It might turn out to be a missing checkbox.